the staff are actually friendly rather than just cordial.

But not too friendly. Ack. I hate when someone tries to act like my bestest friend.

I've decided I can get cash in AL, so I'm not going rushing out to hit the ATM.

Now if I just remember how to get to the airport from downtown. I never remember the details and that makes me nervous, but really, it shouldn't. Done it plenty. Just not in rush hour traffic. Ahrg.

Famous art mirror trick: [link]

Um. I don't get it.

it's not really a trick, so much, but the King and Queen of Spain are in the mirror, right where the painting's viewer would be standing. It's a weird narrative moment, especially as the entire painting is kind of about looking back...but not at you.

But not too friendly. Ack. I hate when someone tries to act like my bestest friend.

If the friendliness is of the sincere variety rather than the suck-up sort, I'm fine with it, but that usually only happens once you become a familiar face. One waiter and several of the chefs at the tapas bar I frequent will come over to chat with me if they're not busy—I've been a weekly customer there for over a year.

On the flip side, I've been smacked in the head with a serving tray by a friendly aquaintance who worked at another restaurant I frequented. A little over-friendliness would have been preferable.

I didn't even re-read the stupid paper. WHATEV.

I tip under 20% generally, since I estimate it and round down-ish, depending. For delivered food, too, but that's because 20% of what I get delivered comes out to the "couple of bucks" that seems to be OK for delivery people.

Now I'm going to start calling car services and see what they tell me to do about tomorrow.

I try to be overly nice to wait staff and counter-people at eating establishments I frequent, but only because I don't want anyone with a grudge handling my food. For obvious reasons.

I am now singing about the meatloaf in my oven. to the tune of Winter Wonderland.

I tip 18-20% for decent service. I might go higher for excellent service.

If we have the toddler with us, my standard is usually 25-30% because we usually need more assistance--getting a high chair, getting his food before ours, crackers, extra napkins, getting the check quickly, plus the clean up is a bitch.

We don't eat out much anymore.

I can't decide if I should be thrilled or skeptical: I just called a car service about tomorrow, and he just said to call 30 minutes before I want to go. Granted, I'm really fliexible about my timing, but still. Isn't everything supposed to be crazy right now???

Maybe they preemptively stationed cars and drivers all over the city. Or one lives really close to you.

Well, it is a local service, but still.

In other news, seeing the ad for the movie where Queen Latifah's boyfriend is played by LL Cool J reminds me of the blind item I saw in Gawker about him being gay.